Sabato De Sarno, the former creative director of Gucci, embarks on a new professional chapter as he is appointed to the same role at Icicle, the menswear and womenswear brand founded in Shanghai by Ye Shouzeng and Shawna Tao.
Sabato De Sarno is Icicle’s new creative director – Instagram @icicle_official
“Since Icicle was founded in 1997, our ambition has always been to reconnect people with nature through enduring fashion. We believe this vision can only be realised by combining creative talent from around the world with Icicle’s deep cultural roots and industrial capabilities in China. Sabato’s arrival marks an important step forward in this direction,” said CEO Ye Shouzeng.
Sabato De Sarno will oversee the creative direction of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, and eyewear. His first collection will debut for AW 2027–28. Bénédicte Laloux will continue in her role as Design Director of the Women’s Show Collection, working under De Sarno’s creative direction.
“I have always been fascinated by design beyond the finished product, from the origins of raw materials to the craftsmanship that shapes them. I was drawn to Icicle by the profound alignment between its principles and my creative philosophy,” commented the designer. “The harmony between humanity and nature is an idea that Icicle has been exploring for almost 30 years, and it feels more relevant today than ever. I am grateful to Mr Ye for his trust as we begin to write this chapter together with the entire team.”
Icicle- which has over 200 shops, including flagships in Beijing, Shanghai, and Paris- is part of the Chinese group ICCF, in which Kering announced last April that it had acquired a minority stake.
